Meter-testing cut-out.



Patented. June 20, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. E. MURRAY.

METER TESTING GUT-OUT.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.25, 1910. 99 6?? Patented June 20, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. MURRAY,

on NEW YORK, N. Y.

METERTESTING CUT-OUT.

I Application filed October 25, 1910. Serial No. 588,955. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs E. MpRRAY, a citizen of the United States, reslding at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain follows: Binding posts 16 and 17 are individually connected to 13 of nected together by a metal bridge 18 on top projection F and plate projection G. They are also conof the bar 7. Binding posts 19 and 20 are 60 individually connected to the plate 10 of projection J and to the plate on rojection I. They are also connected by a ridge 21 on top of the bar 7. Binding post 22 is connected to projection F. Bindlng posts 5 23 and 24: are connected toprojection H. Binding post 25 is connected to plate 11 on projection J. Binding post 26 is connected to plate 14. of projection I. Binding post 27 is connected to plate 12 of projection G. 70 Said binding posts 26 and 27 are connected together on the upper side of the bar 7 by a metal bridge 28. 7

Referring first to Fig. ,4 which shows the normal conditions The service conductors of 75 new and useful Improvement in Meter-Testing Out-Outs, of which the following s a specification.

The invention is a-meter testing cut-out designed for use in connection wlth the usual service and local conductors.

It comprises a cut-out box and pairs of separable spring contact plates therem, which are connected to the terminals of the service and local conductors and -of the meter. A single manually operated device, to which may previously be connected the standardizing or testing apparatus, is ap plied to the said contact plates, with the result that the circuit to the meter is first opened without breaking circuit between the service and local conductors, and then, as the device is pushed to its seat, circuitis closed from a service conductor through the standardizing apparatus and meter;

The device is here shown as constructed for a three wire service and local system.

In the accompanylng drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective-view of my cut-out showing the operating bar raised and separate from the box. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one ofthe pairs of contact plates in'said box. Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrams; Fig. 3 shows the normal-condition of thecontacts and circuits. Fig. 4 shows the circuits when the meter and standardizing apparatus are inserted.

Similar numbers and letters of reference indicate like parts.

1 is a cut-out box, preferably of porcelam, containing five openings,in each of which is inserteda pair of separable spring contacts A, B, O, D, E.

7 1s a supporting block of refractory insulating material provided with a handle 8. Depending from said bar'are five project1ons F, G, H, I, J. The projections Hand F are of conducting material. The rojection J is of insulating material havmg on its opposite sides metal contactplates L0, 11,- of equal length. On the projections G and I, also of insulating materlal, the metal contact plates 12, 14, are shorter than the plates 13, 15. On the upper side of the block 7 are binding posts which are connected as ductor connects directly to the neutral service conductor. The positive local conductor connects to the plate a of the pair of contacts B, and the negative local conductor connects to the plate a of the pair of contacts D. The plates 6 of connected through one field-coil c, and the plates 1) of the pairs of contacts D, E, are connected through the other field coil 03 of the meter. is connected tacts A and 0. Obviously, under this condition of the circuit, the service conductors and the meter are connected to the local conductors K or customers load.

When it is desired to test the meter without interruptin circuit to the local conductors, the ends 0 the projections on bar 7 are inserted between the spring contacts, as A, B, G, D, E. Although the members of the pairs of contacts are thus separated, the circuit from the service conductors to the local conductors is not broken because it proceeds from positive service conductor to plate a of pair A, projection F, bridge 18 and plate '13 of projection G, and plate a of pair B, to

positive local conductor; and similarly from negative service conductor to plate a of pair of contacts E, plate 10 on pro'ection J, bridge 21, plate 15 of projection to plate a .of pair A and B are 85 The potential coil 6 of the meter to the plates 6 of pairs of con- 90 D, to negative local conductor.

The circuit to the meter and testing instru-' ments is, however, broken until the projections are unitedly pushed down between the contact plates sufiiciently to bring the short plate 12 on projection G and the short plate 14 on projection I into contact with the plates b'o'f pairs B, D, which, as already stated, are connected by the bridge 28.

The terminals of the voltmeter being connected to binding posts 22 and 23, the circuit through that instrument is as follows: from positive conductor, to plate a of pair A, projection F, by wire 30 to voltmeter V, wire 31, projection H, plate a of pair 0, and so to neutral conductor. The terminals of the annneter A and artificial load X in-series therewith being connected to binding posts 24 and 25, the circuit through this instrument and load is as follows: from posit ve conductor, to plate a of pair A, projectlon F, plate I) of pair A, meter coil 0, plate I) of pair B, plate 12 of projection G, bridge 28, plate 14 of projection I, plate I) of pair D, meter coil 03, plate I) of pair E, plate 11 of projection J, ammeter A, load X, wire 32, projection H, plate a of pair C, and so to neutral conductor.

The standardizing apparatushere the voltmeter, ammeter and artificial loadare now in circuit with the meter which thus may be conveniently tested; and this connect1on has been made without interrupting the TGI'SICQ to the local conductors or customers Particular attention is called to the following facts: The foregoing result has been attalned by the employment of a single device-namely, the bar '7 with its projec: tions and handle-which is applied directly to the separable spring contacts,and simply pushed down between them until seated. The

operator can at once read his'testing instru ments, and then withdraw the device, leaving the circuits as he found them. All consecutively thrown switches, separately introduced bridges, and other devices requirin more or less manipulation, are avoide There is no interference with the customers load at any time, and the device cannot wrongly be used.

The term standardizing apparatus used in the claims means any apparatus which it may be found desirable to connect in circuit with the meter in order to correct or verify its readings.

I claim:

1. The combination with service line conductors, local conductors, a meter, standardizing apparatus, and circuit closers disposed in the circuits of said service conductors, local conductors and meter, of a portable device applicable as a unit to said circuit closers for opening the circuit closed to said meter, without breaking circuit between said service and local conductors, and thereafter closing circuit from a service conductor through said standardizing apparatus and meter.

2. In combination with the line service conductors and local conductors, a meter,

standardizing apparatus therefor, and normally closed separable contacts at the terminals of said service conductors, local conductors and said meter, a device applicable as a unit to said contacts for opemng the circuit closed through said contacts to said meter without breaking circuit between said service and local conductors and thereafter closing circuit from a service conductor through said standardizing apparatus and meter.

3. In combination with the service conductors and local conductors, and normally closed separable contacts at the terminals of said service conductors, local conductors and said meter, a portable standardizing apparatus, a device connected to said apparatus and applicable as a unit to said contacts for opening the circuit closed through said contacts to said meter without breaking circuit between said service and local conductors, and thereafter closing circuit from a service conductor through said standardizing apparatus and meter.

4:. In combination with the service conductors and local conductors, a meter, normally closed separable contacts at the terminals of said service conductors and said meter, a device comprising a support, and a plurality of fixed circuit controlling contacts thereon, and a standardizing. apparatus connected to certain of said contacts, and bridges on said support connecting certain other of said contacts: the said device being applicable to said separable contacts to open circuit closed through the same to said meter without breaking circuit between said service and local conductors, and thereafter to close circuit from a service conductor through said standardizing apparatus and meter.

5. In combination with the service conductors and local conductors of a three wire system, a meter, normally closed separable spring contacts at the terminals of said service conductors andsaid meter, a support, a plurality of projections thereon for entering between and separating said contacts, two of said projections H, F being of conducting material and entering pairs of contacts respectively interposed in the positive and neutral service conductors, one of said projections J having two mutually insulated contact plates 10, 11 of equal length and entering a pair of contacts interposed between a negative service conductor and sa1d meter, two of said projections G, I each having two contact plates 12, 13 and 14, 15 of unequal length and entering pairs of contacts respectively interposed between the meter and the positive local conductor and between the meter and the negative local conductor, a testing voltmeter connected to projections H and F, a, testing emmeter connected to projection H and plate 11' of projection J, and on said support three bridges, one connecting the short contact plates 12, 14 of projections G, I, another bridge connecting projection F and plate 13 p of projection G, and. a third bridge connect: it ing plate 10 of projection J and plate15 of projection I. a In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. MURRAY. Witnesses;

GERTRUDE T. Ponmiz, MAY T." MCGABRY. 

